Apple quietly kills Xserve RAID

updated 12:45 pm EST, Tue February 19, 2008

by MacNN Staff

Apple kills Xserve RAID

Despite today's unveiling of the Xsan 2 file system, Apple quietly discontinued the Xserve RAID platform, with any references to the hard drive system absent from the online store. The only mention of enterprise-level RAID hard drive products is that of the Promise VTrak system, for which Apple is also selling a number of service parts as well. The VTrak RAID systems range from 4.8TB to 16TB, and are configured with either SATA or SAS drives.

It is unclear if Apple is making another approach to the RAID system, or if it is just simplifying its offerings.

I really cannot believe this product is just gone, after 5 years. It was really a reasonably priced system (especially compared to the Promise unit) and very reliable-we use it. As an administrator it makes you a little nervous that such 'enterprise class' equipment was just dumped with no reason, warning, or roadmap. It makes you wonder whether you *should* buy Apple equipment for networking again. At least it does for me...

Just a small niche product that other companies are far better equipped to deliver. That Xsan 2 can now interface with third-party SANs opens up Apple hardware as a posibility to more businesses. No need for Apple to waste their resources in that market.

The Xserve RAID is still mentioned in the "Learn More" of the Xserve's Expansion Slot 2 under Dual/Quad Channel Fibre-Channel cards. Guess Apple missed a spot. It's a shame, really, because an Xserve with a couple Xserve RAIDs below it is one of the most beautiful things.

Yeah, the Xserve RAID is a "pretty" piece of computer engineering, but I think it's smart Apple is honest with their offerings and is making their software work with more cost-effective, yet reliable, solutions.

There's really no need to worry about the Xserve. It's needed for running OS X in a server-based environment. Xserve RAID was merely storage and was already dependent on OS X server.

The Xserve, running OS X, will continue to grow and be enhanced. It's a major strategy for Apple and is not nearly as expendable as the RAID system.

You all are missing the point of mgpalma. It's not whether it's expendable or not. It's the way Apple just treats it's customers. No announcement. No roadmap. No information (AKA "standard Apple protocol"). Why in the world would the enterprise even listen to Apple when they have no respect for the enterprise customer.

I don't think anybody can be surprised at the ease with which Apple simply cuts it's own customers loose. Ditching floppies, OS9 to OSX, lack of SCSI support, PPC to Intel, PCI-X to PCI-E. Firewire gone from the MBA. The only roadmap that matters to Apple is their own, it's their way or the highway! Often they are actually right long-term, it's just that their technological shifts are frequently rather abrupt and premature. Staying Apple always runs the risk of getting burned on something... having to buy new peripherals or software if you upgrade their hardware or software. It's a helluva ride!

To the person who suggested it is good thing as they are supporting cheaper hardware, do you have any idea what you are talking about an xraid with 7x750 was about 8K but the promise is 12K. Look before you talk

Apple gouged on the drives- and the carriers- making the system too expensive. I was being asked to pay almost double for a drive of what was commonly available for my X-serve- so the three hotswap bays never got filled- firewire 800 to the rescue.
Apple has to get a bit more aggressive in pricing- and realize- it's not supposed to make money on hardware.

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